The breeze passed. Temperature was falling from cold to freezing the closer they get to their destination. Then, snow started falling. They were all in awe seeing the transformation from beautiful green meadows to pure white fields. They were heading towards Flourous City; the city that never stops snowing; one of many Gallenhied’s wonders.

About an hour had passed. They sang and they gossiped. They giggled and they laughed. Then, they were quiet. Another hour to go. Whil got tired of the silence. He reached for his journal in his bag. As he did, he opened it to read it some more. There, just at the top corner, a paper dangled outside of the used book slightly. It caught Whil’s attention. Whil pulled it out. It bared the Seal of the Guardians from Hercia, the Guardian Republic.

“The Guardian Embassy of Sallestre...,” he read. It seemed more and more familiar as he continued reading the letter.

--------------------

THE GUARDIAN EMBASSY OF SALLESTRE

Forseed City

17th Seldas 309, Flordis

We have heard of the news. We, the ambassadors of Hercia; the Guardian Republic, and the Council of Sallestre are terribly sorry of what had fallen upon your fate. The loss of your home is our loss as well. Consider this donation of ours as something for you sir/miss/mister/madam to restart your life with.

It is our priority now to keep you sir/miss/mister/madam and the other survivors safe as you all might still be in great danger and are of great importance to us in solving this matter. Officers from the Embassy will be sent to keep an eye on you sir/miss/mister/madam.

We hope that this does not cause any inconvenience to anyone.

Sincerely,

Corlin Grant

(Head Ambassador of Hercia)

--------------------

It was familiar to Whil. He received the same letter once. A letter that seemed to be written by someone who was lazy enough not to bother the gender of the reader specifically. He knew the Council had a more important matter at hand. Even so, a little courtesy goes a long way, thought Whil. He closed his eyes for a moment. Then, he opened them again. Corlin Grant. The signature reads Corlin Grant.

“Hey, guys. Who is Corlin Grant?” asked Whil suddenly.

“What? He’s the head ambassador of Guardian Republic in Sallestre. You knew this. We all got a letter from him remember.” Replied Alph.

“Yeah, I know that. I mean, was he in the news lately? Somehow I felt like I heard his name quite recently.”

“If you mean recently by last week, then yes. He was broadcasted in the televiewer last week, on Flordis at 7:16 p.m.,” Sheila displayed her strong memory. “He was announcing the arrival of the new Terra-Hover. A huge, battle hover-plane that fits 500 units of ‘draigs’, few battalions of troops and hundreds of mecha-armours.” She continued.

“Draigs?” asked Whil.

“Yeah, draigs. A one seated battle vehicle. Equipped with state of the art phot-rifle.” Alph answered.

“Phot-rifle?” asked Whil again.

“Boy, you should start paying attention to the news. Phot-rifles are weapons that shoot out plasma blasts from bullets harvested from the energy of the crystal shards. Corlin said it is all for the purpose of peace upon all lands. I don’t know. Seems a bit fishy to me.” Said Sheila.

“Fishy? Why would it be fishy? He is from the Guardian Republic. The Guardian’s purpose is to protect. I don’t think there is anything fishy about it.” Reacted Whil.

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling. Building a weapon of war for the purpose of peace. Could be good, could be bad. What do I know? Just a feeling.” Sheila added.

Whil looked at the letter once more. Then, the letter was folded and slipped back in between the journal by Whil. He took out a pen and started writing on a blank page in the journal.

317, Ningdarr 27

Semdis – 10:09 a.m.

The journey is getting a little stale. I’m just waiting till we get there. I hope I don’t lose interest in this. I would really want to enjoy my time in Flourous…

………

Whil wrote and wrote. He poured his thoughts, experiences and emotions in the journal. He continued Ray’s epic with his own tale to tell. Every word written and chosen carefully. As he writes time passed by quite fast. Before he knew it they’ve arrived in Flourous City. He looked out the window. A huge arc greeted them with a welcoming breeze. They passed the arc and entered the city. What they saw was beyond their imaginations. Buildings liken castles and ice as beautiful as crystals. The city looked like what is in fairy tales. They were all in awe, even Sheila. Suddenly, a loud honk was heard. Sheila quickly stepped on the break.

“Watch it, kid!” a man in a carrier-hover lifting several crates at the back yelled.

The kids giggled a little but their hearts pumped harder than normal as they waved hello at death moments ago. A loud sigh accompanied their relief and they continued their journey towards an inn, the Brisshaw Inn to be exact. It is the finest inn anyone could find in Flourous. As they arrived, Sheila parked her hover and they all unloaded their bags from the trunk. They then went straight to the front door of the inn. It was a huge door for a humungous inn. Above the arc of the door, written in Thredenin, ‘Virlun Sii Tu Thraaril Ur Thredsyeil’.

“What does it say, Alph?” asked Whil.

“It says welcome.” He answered.

“That’s it? That looks a bit long to just be welcome.” Interrupted Sheila.

“Fine. Hmm… Welcome to Halls of Histories. Yup. It says welcome to Halls of Histories.” Alph read.

“Halls of Histories?” Sheila wondered. “Aha! I remember. I read something about Brisshaw Inn the other day. It said that within the hallway of this inn are carvings of important past events. Thus the name, thraaril ur thredsyeil, halls of histories. The carvings are works of art and also a remembrance of history itself.”

“Interesting.” Said both Whil and Alph.

The three entered and their jaw dropped. As true as what Sheila had said, history is beautifully carved along the walls of the inn. Whil and Alph went closer to see them in detail while Sheila walked in daze towards the inn’s registration counter. She looked up the ceiling, at the pillars and even the door frame while walking. Then, she reached the counter.

“How may I help you today, Ma’am?” said the lady by the counter.

Sheila’s daze was snapped by the lady’s question. “Oh! Um. Two rooms please…” she had a quick gaze upon the lady’s nametag, “…Miss Annis. One with only a single bed and the other with two beds.”

The lady smiled and answered, “Sure. I need you to fill in this form first.”

“Alright, no problem.”

While the registration was done by Sheila, Whil and Alph was wondering around looking at the walls. One by one they observed; every curve and every detail of the art work. Then, Whil stumbled upon a scripture of some sort. It was carved in one of the artwork.

“Alph, come over here. I don’t really understand this.”

Alph approached Whil. He turned and looked where Whil was looking. In Thredenin it was written. It was an old poem sung once by the ancients since before the War of Realms even began. Before time itself. Alph read it and it goes;

--------------------

Feramyel reril,

Raeel u doolyun,

Raes ur thres,

Os thrae,

Nime syaeud,

Nime deekud,

Tim ser mou,

Et miru mae.

--------------------

‘‘Beyond veils,

Lies a secret,

Light of hope,

Up high,

Many tried,

Many searched,

Then till now,

Is never nigh.’’

“It is an old poem. Or so it seems like.” Said Alph. “You know, you should start learning Thredenin soon. One day when you’re old, it’s going to be too late.”

“Didn’t call you for a lecture. I just wanted you to translate the words that’s all,” Whil replied the statement. “Plus, I do know Thredenin. Just not as good as you. Ser maesfaar dror voo lumreed uhim, which means, till nightfall shall we converse again.”

“Yeah, one among few phrases that you memorised. Charming.” Sarcasm was quite loud from Alph’s words.

“Shut up.”

As Whil was about to walk away Sheila called from the counter.

“Guys, let’s go. I’ve got us a couple of rooms for the weekend.”

They immediately grabbed their bags and left straight towards Sheila. Hey then marched straight to their rooms; Sheila in her own and the boys sharing together. They freshened up and readied themselves for the rest of the trip.

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